Fastener.



No. 866,016. y PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907'. C. H. GOODWIN.

FASTBNBR.

APPLIUATION FILED MH 12, 1906.

Inventor:

l A Y .BWaG/mbhk Arb' q @W-GM UNITED, sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

CHARLES II. GOODWIN, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WATERBURY BUTTON COMPANY, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

VApplication led "fav 12,1906. Serial No. SIGA/lola.

larly to the class of fasteners which comprise an U- shaped piece within which one or more layers of fabric, paper, leather or the like are to be clamped or clasped. This class of device has varied utility, and may be employed for clamping together two layers, or may be used upon one or more layers in conjunction with another device, usually forming part of the fastener, such as a button, a pencil holder, a stocking supporter, garment supporting hook or a key chain.

The present invention contemplates such a fastener of novel construction, having novel parts and arrangement of parts, increasing the efficiency, simplicity, durability and cheapness thereof.

The features of invention relate to the novel entirety, and also to the novel parts comprised therein, and also to the relative arrc ngement of those parts. I will first describe a fastener embodying these features of invention and then point out in the claims wherein the novelty resides.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, Figure l is a perspective view of a fastener lever intended to be comprised in a fastener embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of a fastener embodying my invention andcornprising the fastener lever of Fig. l, the parts shown in closed or clasped position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the parts shown in their open position ready to receive fabric or the like. The two last named vfigures are illustrated with pencil holding attachment secured thereto, as this constitutes an important utility of my invention. Fig. 4 is a top view of the U-shaped piece B which is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the same being detached from the fastener lever.

Similar letters of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the specic embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings above referred to, is shown a pencil holding attachment secured to one branch of the U,

but this being only one of a number of attachments which may, but need not, be employed, the same, per se, forms no feature of invention and it need not be further referred to.

A represents an U-shaped piece between the two branches of which fabric, paper, leather, or other material is intended to be clamped.

M represents a clamping or fastener lever, which may be opened and closed at will to release or clamp the material.

The U-shaped piece A should have its two branches substantially parallel as shown. It should be formed of metal having spring qualities when used in a two-part fastener, although the fastener may be applied to elastic material without the need of such quality. Some features of invention may, however, be employed irrespective of the two-part7 feature. The lfirst branch B of the piece A may be provided with a specially formed abutting surface on the inside, against which the fabric is to be'clamped. Thus, instead of a smooth surface, it may be Toughened, as by forming it with teats b. The other branch C of piece A has pivoted at its end the fastening lever M.

The lever M consists of an opening and closing arm holes in the fastener lever are located not exactly at the corner thereof, but substantially the thickness of the metal away from the lever sides at the corner thereof. This results in two advantages. When the fastener is in open position, as in Fig. 3, a maximum jaw opening is secured and the sides of the opening are parallel, giving maximum facility in the insertion of the fabric; this being due to the location of the pivot hole relative to, and the thickness of the metal from the side or edge of, the clamping arm O of the fastener lever. When in closed position, as seen in Fig. 2, the operating arm lies flat against the branch C, and thereby minimizes the thickness of the fastener as an entirety.

In closed position the edge or extremity o of the arm O which is nearest the abutting surface lshould be further out upon the branch B than the pivot P is upon the branch C; in other words, further from the bend of the U. To accomplish this the arm O, or its effective part, which may be considered as a line or plane passing through the edge o and pivot P, should be at obtuse angles to the operating arm N and to the branch C.-

This may be accomplished, as shown, by making the lever M actually L-shaped, and locating the pivot, as above described7 inwards of the actual corner.

I have shown a novel way of connecting the piece A and lever M. This is by forming pivoted projections,

shown as external pivot points, upon branch C, as indicated at P, Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The lever M can then be made from a flat piece with side extensions to be bent around, as shown at Q, Q, Fig. l, its apertures or pivot holes tting over the projections c, and further bent around, to form a hollow square, with the metal forming the extreme edge which is near the branch B of the U,

and constitutes the fabric engaging edge of the fastener lever.

In operation the parts will be opened as seen in Fig. 3. Fabric or other material will be slipped in between the branches of the U. The lever will then be pushed into the position shown in full lines. The operating arm then lies fiat against branch C, and the edge q of arm O has passed over the fabric to a point at a greater distance from the bend of the -U than is the pivot P, owing to Which the pressure of the fabric, or of the U, when non-elastic material is clamped, now serves to press the fastener lever in 4such a Way as to hold it more tightly locked or clamped in closed position. In fact it will snap shut automatically in the act of closing.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fastener comprising in combination, the Ushaped piece havingits branch C shorter than the other branch, and a fastener' lever whose effective arms are obtusely arranged; the said branch C having external pivots at its extreme end, and said lever having pivot holes located substantially the thickness of the metal from the lever side at the corner thereof, whereby when opened the lever will be flat against the inner side of said branch C, and

give a maximum jaw opening for the insertion of fabric or the like.

2. A fastener comprising in combination the Ushaped piece havingits branch C shorter than the other branch, and a fastener' lever whose effective arms are obtusely arranged; the said branch C having external pivots at its extreme end, and said lever having pivot holes substantially the thickness of the metal from both lever sides at the corner thereof, whereby when open the lever will be flat against the inner side of the branch C, and when closed flat against the outer side thereof, substantially as described.

3. A fastener comprising in combination, the U-shaped piece having it branch C shorter than the other branch, and the fastener lever whose effective arms are obtusely arranged; the said branch C having external pivots at its extreme end, and said lever havingl pivot holes located sub4 stantizilly the thickness of the metal from the lever sides at the corner thereof, said lever consisting of au operating arm and a second arm formed by bendingy perforated lateral extensions of said operating arm around into a hollow square, the perforations forming a pivot connection with said U-shaped piece.

ln testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification iu the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 2nd day 0f May A. D., 100G.

CHARLES H. GOODWIN.

In presence of` NATH. It. Bnoxsox, CLAnA L. Denen. 

